Automatic releasing device for brick-machine pitmen



(No Model.)

W. H. HALL. AUTOMATIC RELEASING DEVICE FOR BRIGK MACHINE PITMEN. No.442,872. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\I ILLIAM II. HALL, OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

AUTQMATIC RELEASING DEVICE FOR BRICK-MACHINE PITMEN SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 442,372, dated December 9, 1890.Application filed February 15, 1890. Serial No. 340,562. (No model.)

T0 to whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM II. IIALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, haveinvented a novel Automatic Releasing Device for LeverActuated Machinery,of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a releasing or throw-off device whereby thepressure of the lever maybe automatically stopped when by reason ofimproper feeding or other causes its operation would cause damage.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a brick-machine. In theclass of brickmachines in general use the filled molds are removed fromtheir position under the pressboX by means of a push-bar taking againstan empty mold occupying a position between the filled mold and thepush-bar, one movement of the push-bar serving to remove a filled moldand place an unfilled mold in position under the press-box. In practicetwo unfilled molds occupy the space between the push-bar and the filledmold. If the molds, as frequently occurs from improper feeding or othercauses, are so placed that the movement of the pusl1bar brings either ofthem into contact with the frame of the machine or any rigidobstruction, the molds are wrenched or crushed, and hitherto great losshas been incurred in this way.

The object of my invention is to provide a device whereby the pressureof the lever may be automatically released when either of the moldsbeing improperly placed is in danger of coming in contact with a rigidobstruction;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation showing my inventionapplied to one form of brick-machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of aportion of the opposite end.

A is the frame of the machine; B, an actuating-lever fulcrumed at b andoperated by a revolving cam G. A connecting-rod D connects the lever Bwith a rock-shaft E. At either end of the rock-shaft are bars F F, bymeans of which the rock-shaft forces a pushbar G forward and backwardalong the bed (6 of the mill. The molds are introduced in front of thepush-bar and the movement of the lever forces them forward under thepressbox. I11 most modern machines the fulcrum of the actuatinglever isso constructed as to yield to excessive pressure. In the form shown thepivot 11, which serves as the fulcrum of the lever B, takes through aslotted guide-plate II, secured to the frame A and a forkedconnecting-rod I. The connecting-rod I is pivoted at t to the free endof an arm J which is pivotally secured to the frame at j. The pivot t'is preferably made adj ustahle in the connecting-rod I by means of aslot 7. and a set-screw d or other suitable means. The arm J is providedwith a-weighted lever j. The pivot 19, being free to slide in theslotted guide-plate II, is only held against movement in response to thepressure of the lever by the forked connecting-rod I and arm J. If thethree pivotal points I), i, and j are in the same line, the pivot 79will be held in a fixed position, notwithstanding the pressure of thelever. If the pivotal point i is slightly out of line with the points I)and j, a strong pressure upon the lever-pivot I) would cause the fulcrumto yield. By varying the relative position of these pivotal points thefulcrum can be adjusted to yield at any degree of pressure which thesafety of the machine or its appurtenances may require.

The yielding fulcrum above set forth is substantially identical withthat described and claimed in a pending application of mine, filedSeptember 15, 1888, Serial No. 285,543, and is not herein claimed exceptas combined and operating with the novel features of this application,but my right to claim upon the same in said pending application isexpressly reserved.

In brick-making machinery the lever must be quite strongly set, in orderto do its work under normal conditions; but if an empty mold, when beingplaced under the machine, happens to be caught when partly in place, itis liable to be forced against some portion of the frame of the machineand crushed or seriously damaged before the fulcrum will yield. Toovercome this objection I provide the machine with a rock-shaft K,extending across the frame and provided with a safetyarm 70, so situatedthat if the mold is not properly placed in front of the push-bar it willcontact with this arm before it comes in contact with a post or otherobstruction. The rock-shaft K is also provided with an arm 7t andconnecting-rod k by means of which it is connected with the weightedlever j. Then a mold is forced against the arm is, the rockshaft K isactuated, and by means of the arm is and connecting-rod 7t" raises theWeighted lever j, thereby raising the pivotal point 't' relatively tothe pivotal point j and unlocking or releasing the fulcrum Z).

L is a weighted pawl adapted to engage with a rack 7' upon arm J, andhold the arm against return movement after its position has been changedby lifting the weighted lever j. This pawl is provided with a spring Z,adapted to press it into engagement with the rack.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described my releasing device as employedin connection with a preferred form of yielding fulcrum, it is obviousthat the rock-shaft, to which the safety-arm is attached, may beconnected with any lever or other fulcrum-releasing device which may beemployed as a release to overstrain and perform the same function.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of an actuating-lever, amovable fulcrum-holding device, a safetyarm, a rock-shaft, andconnections between the rock-shaft and the fulcrum-holding device,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of an actuating-lever, a movable fulcrum-holdingdevice, a safetyarm, a rock-shaft, a lever-arm connected With thefulcrum-holding device, and an arm connecting the rock-shaft with thelever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The combination of an actuating-lever, a slotted guide-plate, afulcrum-pivot taking therethrough, an arm pivoted, to the frame, and arod pivoted to the free end of said arm and to the actuating-lever, asafety-arm, a

rock-shaft adapted to be actuated thereby,

